I think we can all agree James Johnson is one of the more intriguing Raptors – along with one of the more frustrating ones some nights.

He’s big and strong, willing to play a role as a defensive specialist and I know Dwane Casey is quite interested in his potential.

But what’s going to kill Johnson’s playing time – and he knows it – are his turnovers. Ghastly, some of them; and far too frequent. He had four the other night in Cleveland – that seems to be about the norm for him – I think two were for travelling, one was where he bounced a pass off Andrea’s head and I can’t remember the other.

To him, a solution is easy:

Slow the hell down, or at least that’s what he was saying yesterday at practice:

“It starts here in practice, getting more shots up five-on-five, moving the ball during five-on-five, making the right play and making the right pass. Got a long ways to go but it’s close.

“I worked hard during the summer but I hadn’t played a real five-on-five game until the first Boston pre-season games; a couple more games in and things will start slowing down for me.”

I guess that’s the same for every young player – and Johnson is just in his third season and has only been a starter for less than half a season – but he’s got to be better.

Small forward is a bit of a black hole for this team, everyone knows it; it’s a job waiting to be claimed and if Johnson can cut down on his mistakes, the job is his.

He is a very good defender and looks like he could be a pretty good rebounder but he can’t be coughing up the ball as often as he has been.

He stole the ball and then quickly threw long transition pass which was stolen ( that was his 4th TO). What I like about him is that he is a decent passer. He had 5 assists and could have more but his teammates missed open shots. Kid will be special after he will cut down on turnovers and will develop some outside shot.